Kent County, Rhode Island

Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of the 2020 census, the population was 170,363,[1] making it the second-most populous county in Rhode Island. The county was formed in 1750 from the southern third of Providence County.[2] It was named after the county of Kent, England.[3] Kent County, like other counties in Rhode Island, no longer has governmental functions (other than as court administrative and sheriff corrections boundaries). Its seat is East Greenwich. Kent County is included in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn constitutes a portion of the greater Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area.

Kent County
Map
Interactive map
Map of Rhode Island highlighting Kent County
Location within the U.S. state of Rhode Island
Map of the United States highlighting Rhode Island
Rhode Island's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°42′15″N 71°28′46″W / 41.704124°N 71.47953°W / 41.704124; -71.47953
Country United States
State Rhode Island
FoundedJune 11, 1750
Named forKent, England
SeatEast Greenwich
Largest cityWarwick
Area
 • Total188 sq mi (490 km2)
 • Land169 sq mi (440 km2)
 • Water20 sq mi (50 km2)  10%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total170,363 Increase
 • Density910/sq mi (350/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 188 square miles (490 km2), of which 169 square miles (440 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (10%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
17908,851
18008,487−4.1%
18109,83415.9%
182010,2284.0%
183012,78925.0%
184013,0832.3%
185015,06815.2%
186017,30314.8%
187018,5957.5%
188020,58810.7%
189026,75429.9%
190029,97612.0%
191036,37821.4%
192038,2695.2%
193051,39034.3%
194058,31113.5%
195077,76333.4%
1960112,61944.8%
1970142,38226.4%
1980154,1638.3%
1990161,1354.5%
2000167,0903.7%
2010166,158−0.6%
2020170,3632.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2019[9]

2000 census

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As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 167,090 people, 67,320 households, and 44,969 families living in the county. The population density was 982 inhabitants per square mile (379/km2). There were 70,365 housing units at an average density of 414 per square mile (160/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.54% White, 0.93% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 1.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.1% were of Italian, 18.9% Irish, 11.1% English, 10.1% French, 6.1% French Canadian and 6.1% Portuguese ancestry, 92.0% spoke English, 1.9% Spanish, 1.5% French, 1.4% Portuguese and 1.1% Italian as their first language.

There were 67,320 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.20% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,617, and the median income for a family was $57,491. Males had a median income of $40,052 versus $29,130 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,833. About 4.80% of families and 6.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 166,158 people, 68,645 households, and 43,747 families living in the county.[11] The population density was 985.9 inhabitants per square mile (380.7/km2). There were 73,701 housing units at an average density of 437.3 per square mile (168.8/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 93.4% white, 2.0% Asian, 1.4% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.2% of the population.[11] The largest ancestry groups were:

  26.7% Irish

  23.2% Italian

  17.3% English

  16.3% French

  8.9% Portuguese

  7.6% German

  4.8% Polish

  4.4% French Canadian

  3.3% American

  2.9% Swedish

  2.4% Scottish

  1.7% Scotch-Irish

  1.4% Russian [13]

Of the 68,645 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.3% were non-families, and 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 42.7 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $61,088 and the median income for a family was $77,100. Males had a median income of $53,458 versus $41,380 for females. The per capita income for the county was $31,221. About 4.9% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Communities

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Map of Kent County, Rhode Island showing cities, towns, and CDPs

City

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Towns

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Census-designated place

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Other villages

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Politics

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Kent County, like most of Rhode Island, has been strongly Democratic for the last half century. In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican to win the county since Ronald Reagan in 1984, although Joe Biden was able to bring it back over to the Democratic side four years later in 2020.

United States presidential election results for Kent County, Rhode Island[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 42,001 45.12% 49,113 52.76% 1,979 2.13%
2016 38,336 46.72% 37,788 46.05% 5,929 7.23%
2012 31,567 40.00% 45,564 57.73% 1,792 2.27%
2008 33,780 40.18% 48,406 57.58% 1,888 2.25%
2004 33,699 43.19% 42,830 54.90% 1,489 1.91%
2000 25,291 34.42% 43,265 58.89% 4,914 6.69%
1996 19,992 27.95% 41,018 57.35% 10,516 14.70%
1992 25,217 30.59% 35,934 43.60% 21,274 25.81%
1988 34,314 47.79% 37,221 51.84% 266 0.37%
1984 40,427 56.15% 31,352 43.55% 214 0.30%
1980 28,331 39.90% 31,350 44.15% 11,324 15.95%
1976 34,131 48.61% 35,855 51.07% 227 0.32%
1972 40,534 58.19% 29,004 41.64% 115 0.17%
1968 22,493 37.07% 35,609 58.69% 2,576 4.25%
1964 12,297 21.66% 44,476 78.34% 0 0.00%
1960 24,344 44.26% 30,662 55.74% 0 0.00%
1956 31,548 65.94% 16,298 34.06% 0 0.00%
1952 27,745 60.85% 17,824 39.09% 24 0.05%
1948 16,299 51.28% 15,287 48.10% 199 0.63%
1944 13,710 49.27% 14,059 50.52% 57 0.20%
1940 14,790 50.74% 14,333 49.17% 28 0.10%
1936 13,550 48.36% 13,238 47.25% 1,231 4.39%
1932 11,096 50.95% 10,398 47.74% 286 1.31%
1928 11,487 60.44% 7,460 39.25% 58 0.31%
1924 11,100 65.84% 5,429 32.20% 331 1.96%
1920 8,474 69.98% 3,394 28.03% 242 2.00%
1916 4,038 59.39% 2,632 38.71% 129 1.90%
1912 2,170 38.90% 2,030 36.39% 1,379 24.72%
1908 3,617 65.42% 1,700 30.75% 212 3.83%
1904 2,981 60.30% 1,859 37.60% 104 2.10%
1900 2,613 66.19% 1,126 28.52% 209 5.29%
1896 2,817 77.37% 645 17.71% 179 4.92%
1892 2,244 58.81% 1,469 38.50% 103 2.70%
1888 1,988 59.99% 1,261 38.05% 65 1.96%
1884 1,602 62.17% 886 34.38% 89 3.45%
1880 1,759 59.99% 1,153 39.32% 20 0.68%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Kent County, Rhode Island". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Rhode Island: Individual County Chronologies". Rhode Island Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2009. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 173.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  7. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  11. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  12. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  13. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  14. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  15. ^ "42-3-5". webserver.rilin.state.ri.us. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 9, 2018.

41°41′N 71°35′W / 41.68°N 71.58°W / 41.68; -71.58